Sharapova ousted early from Australian Open

Roddick, Clijsters breeze through first round

Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts as she plays Russia's Maria Kirilenko during their Women's singles first round match at the Australian Open.
(
Mark Baker
)

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Maria Sharapova was upset by Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-4 in the first round of the Australian Open on Monday, her worst performance at a Grand Slam event since 2003.

The 14th-seeded Sharapova was unable to defend her 2008 Australian Open championship while sidelined 10 months because of right shoulder surgery. She then failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals in the other three majors last year.

The loss to Kirilenko was her earliest exit at a major since her first-round loss at the 2003 French Open.

"Just didn`t win the match ... bottom line," said Sharapova, summing up the match in a matter-of-fact manner. "Certainly had my chances and just didn`t execute.

"I felt like I was -- when she was up and then I`d get back there, back in the game -- I just didn`t take advantage of that and let her ... control the situation again."

Kirilenko advanced to the second round with Dinara Safina, who had a 6-4, 6-4 win over Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia in the first match completed on a rainy day at Melbourne Park. The second-seeded Safina was the runner-up to Serena Williams last year.

Kim Clijsters played on Rod Laver Arena immediately after Sharapova`s loss and needed less than an hour to beat Valerie Tetreault of Canada 6-0, 6-4.

Clijsters won the U.S. Open in September in her third tournament back from time off after getting married and having a baby.

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Andy Roddick sat through a needless rain suspension before beating Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

The match at Hisense Arena, the tournament`s second covered court, was suspended at 2-2 in second set so that organizers could close the roof, which had been opened despite rain in the area.

Men`s No.4 Andy Murray and U.S. Open winner Juan Martin del Potro were set to play later Monday. Del Potro withdrew from an exhibition tournament at Kooyong last week because of an injured wrist, but his agent said he`s expected to be fine.

Rafael Nadal, who beat Roger Federer in five sets in the final last year to win his first major on hardcourts, was to play a night match.

11 fans ejected

Eleven fans were ejected from Melbourne Park for disruptive behavior and smuggling flares onto the grounds on the first morning of the Australian Open.

In another incident, police said a group of Croatian supporters were denied entry to the grounds Monday after setting off a flare.

Victoria Police Superintendent Jock Menzel said the 11 ejected people were standing on chairs and bothering spectators during the match between Croatia`s Ivo Karlovic and Czech Radek Stepanek.

Menzel said he was not aware who they were supporting, and said the "people have been removed from the stadium and they`re not welcome to return."

The incidents on the first day of the Australian Open recall tensions that erupted last year in a chair-throwing brawl between Serb and Croatian fans.

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